Octreotide represses secretory-burst mass and nonpulsatile secretion but does not restore event frequency or orderly GH secretion in acromegaly

Nienke R. Biermasz, Alberto M. Pereira, Marijke Frölich, Johannes A. Romijn, Johannes D. Veldhuis, Ferdinand Roelfsema

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Octreotide is a potent somatostatin analog that inhibits growth hormone (GH) release and restricts somatotrope cell growth. The long-acting octreotide formulation Sandostatin LAR is effective clinically in ∼60% of patients with acromegaly. Tumoral GH secretion in this disorder is characterized by increases in pulse amplitude and frequency, nonpulsatile (basal) release, and irregularity. Whether sustained blockade by octreotide can restore physiological secretion patterns in this setting is unknown. To address this question, we studied seven patients with GH-secreting tumors during chronic receptor agonism. Responses were monitored by sampling blood at 10-min intervals for 24 h, followed by analyses of secretion and regularity by multiparameter deconvolution and approximate entropy (ApEn). The somatostatin agonist suppressed GH secretory-burst mass, nonpulsatile (basal) GH release, and pulsatile secretion, thereby decreasing total GH secretion by 86% (range 70-96%). ApEn decreased from 1.203 ± 0.129 to 0.804 ± 0.141 (P = 0.032), denoting greater regularity. None of GH pulse frequency, basal GH secretion rates, or ApEn normalized. In summary, chronic somatostatin agonism is able to repress amplitude-dependent measures of excessive GH secretion in acromegaly. Presumptive tumoral autonomy is inferred by continued elevations of event frequency, overall pattern disruption (irregularity), and nonsuppressible basal GH secretion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E25-E30
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume286
Issue number1 49-1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2004

Keywords

  • Deconvolution analysis
  • Diurnal rhythm
  • Growth hormone
  • Human

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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